Dual tank water heater



Feb. 18, 1958 Filed Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. FLYNN 2,823,649

DUAL TANK WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

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ATTE! RN EYE Feb. 18, 1958 E. E. FLYNN DUAL TANK WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 30. 1954 a' www ATTCI RNEYS` United States Patent 2,823,649 DUAL TANK WATER HEATER Elwin E. Flynn, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application November 30, 1954, Serial No. 472,103

4 Claims. (Cl. 122-17) burners that supply heat to the water in the two compartments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a water heating apparatus which is inexpensive and simple to operate and manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the water heater of the present invention and showing the electrical hookup schematically.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the openings in the vertical tube.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a hollow housing which can be made of any suitable material, and the housing can include an annular side wall 11 and a top wall 12 which may have a curved shape. The housing 10 further includes a horizontally disposed bottom wall 14, Figure 1, and for supporting the housing 10 there is provided a plurality of spaced apart legs 15.

Positioned within thehousing 10 is a hollow casing 16,

and the casing 16 includes a side wall 17 and a top wall i 18. A support member 19 serves to interconnect the lower end of the casing16 to the housing 10.

Extending longitudinally through the casing 16 and housing 10 is a vertically disposed hollow tube 20. The u tube 20 is provided with a plurality of openings or apertures 21, and the tube 20 is further provided with a plurality of struck-out portions 22 which define openings for the passage therethrough of air or gases. There is further provided in the lower end of the tube 20 a plurality of openings 23.

Positioned within the casing 16 is ;a horizontally disposed plate 24, and depending from the platev24 is ,an annular or cylindrical body member 25. A ange 26 extends inwardly from the loweredge of the body member A,

25, and the body member 25 co-acts with a cylindrical sleeve 31 to define therebetween a well or chamber 27 for a purpose to be later described. The numeral 28 designates an upper compartment for holding water, and the upper compartment 28 is defined by the space above the plate 24.

Positioned below the plate 24 is a partition 29, and the partition 29 may be secured to the sleeve 31 and to the casing 16 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding. The partition 29 and plate 24 co-act to define therebetween a lower compartment 30 which is separate from the upper compartment 28, and each of these compartments hold a suitable quantity of water.

Communicating with the lower end of the chamber 27 are a plurality of tubes 32, and the upper end of the tubes 32 are also secured to the plate 24 and communicate with the compartment 28. Thus, the water will circulate from the upper compartment 28 down through the tubes 32 then through the chamber 27 and back through the compartment 28.

Secured to the upper portion of the tube 20 is a shield 33, and a conduit 34 leads from the shield 33 to any suitable locality where the hot water is to be used. A conduit 36 leads from the conduit 34 to a suitable expansion tank,k and a safety release valve 37 may also be connected to the conduit 34. lThe conduit 34 thus serves to convey from the apparatus the hot water from the compartment 28. A similar conduit 38 serves to convey -hot water outwardly from the compartment 30, and a branch line 39 may connect an expansion tank to the conduit 38, .there being a safety release valve 40 connected to the conduit 38. Y

Positioned in the bottom of the apparatus is apairA of burners 41 and 42 which are arranged n concentric relationwith respect to each other. The burner 41 is larger than the burner 42, and the burner 41 may be connected to a gaseous or liquid fuel supply line by means of a pipe 43, and the pipe 43 may have a solenoid actuated valve 44 therein. The auxiliary burner 42 may be connected to the gaseous fuel supply line by means of a pipe 45, and the pipe or line 45 Vmay also have a solenoid actuated valve 46 therein for :controlling the ow of gaseous or liquid fuel therethrough. The valves 44 and 46 are thermostatically ycontrolled as later described in this application.

Communicating with the lower end of the compartment 30 is a conduit 47 which has a manually operable valve 48 therein. Thus, by opening the valve 48 the water inr thercornpartment 30 can be drained therefrom. Suitable insulation 49 is interposed between the casing 16 and the housing 10 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

A conduit 50 communicates with the lower end of the chamber 27 for supplyingwater thereto from a suitable source of supply, and a conduit 51 communicates with the lower compartment 30 for supplying water thereto. A valve 52 may be arranged in the conduit 50, and a valve 53 can be arranged in the conduit 51, Figure 1. A branch line 54 interconnects the conduits 50 and 51 together, and a pressure reducing valve 55 is interposed in Vthe branch line 54, there being a manually operable valve 56 also in the line 54.

Depending from the bottom wall 14 of the houslng 10 is an annularcollar 57, and surrounding thercollar 57 Ais an annular bushing 58, there being registering apertures 72 in the members 57 and 58. A shield 60 is secured to the lower end of the members 57 and 58 and a reticulated member or screen 59 surrounds the members 57 and 58 for filtering the air entering the bottom of -the tube. Thus, air enters the apparatus through the open- ,ings 72 and-.then passes up through the tube 20. Some Yof the air then passes out through the openings 23 and st ipportsl combustion in the 4burners 41 and 42. Someof the air may also pass up and out through the openings 22 and into the space between the sleeve 31 and the tube 20. The waste gases or air may reenter the upper portion of the tube 20 by passing through the openings 21.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings there is shown schematically the wiring arrangement for the apparatus. Thus, the numerals 61 and 62 designate the power lines which are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, and the line 61 may lead to a thermostat 63 of conventional construction, and the thermostat 63 is positioned in the lower compartment 30. A manually operable mechanism 64 is provided for adjusting or setting the thermostat 63, and a wire 65 leads from the .thermostat 63 to the solenoid 44. The line 66 interconnects the solenoids 44 and 46 together, and the line 66 may be connected to the input wire 62. The wire 67 leads from the input line 61 to a second thermostat 68, and the thermostat 68 is positioned in the upper compartment 28. The thermostat 68 includes a manually operable mechanism 69 which can be adjusted for regulating the thermostat 68, and a wire 70 leads from the thermostat 68 to the solenoid 46.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a water heater wherein there are two separate compartments 28 and 30 which can be used for supplying hot water of two different temperatures to two diiferent locations. suitable locality of source of supply through the conduits 50 and 51. The water which passes through the conduit 50 enters the lower end of the chamber 27, then rises upwardly in the chamber 27 and enters the upper compartment 28. This water then circulates down through the tubes 32 and reenters the lower end of the chamber 27, the circulation taking place as the result of the heating `eiect which takes place in the apparatus. The hot water from the compartment 28 passes out through the conduit 34 to any suitable location and the hot water from the lower compartment 30 passes out through the conduit 38. Fuel is supplied to the burners 41 and 42 through the medium of suitable pipes or conduits, and a baie 71 is arranged on the lower end of the sleeve 31 for guiding the heat from the burners 41 and 42 to the proper area. Air enters the apparatus through openings 72 and then passes up into the tube 20. Some of this air passes out through the openings 23 so as to support combustion in the burners 41 and 42. The hot gaseous products of combustion pass up through the space between the sleeve 31 and the tube 20, and these hot gases of combustion are intermixed with warm air passing up through the tube whereby the water in the compartment 30 and the water in the chamber 27 will be heated uniformly. The waste products resulting from the burning of the gaseous fuel passing out through the top of the tube 20 can be discharged in the atmosphere if desired. The thermostat 68 can be set by means of the mechanism 69 so that a sufficient quantity of fuel will be supplied through the conduit 45, since the solenoid 46 controls the ow of fuel through the line 45. Furthermore, the thermostat 63 controls the solenoid valve 44 so that the temperature of the water in the lower compartment 30 is controlled or regulated -by means of the thermostat 63.

The top of the tube 20 can be connected to a chimney and the conduit 34 can be connected to any suitable apparatus, as for example, the conduit 34 can be connected to the air conditioner shown and described in my copending application Serial Number 480,313, filed January 7, 1955. The conduit 50 can be connected to the return hne leading from the air conditioner of my copending application, and the conduit 51 can be connected to a suitable source of water supply. The pair of burners 41 and 42 may operate in unison or else they may operate separately. The compartment 28 can be used for supplymg water for an air conditioning or air heating unit,

In use, water may be supplied from any .4 while the compartment 30 can be used for supplying or storing hot water that is to be used `for various utilities or domestic purposes. The outer surface of the housing 10 may be provided with suitable decorations so as to enhance or increase the attractiveness of the device. Safety release valves are provided for each compartment and the reducing valve 55 serves to reduce the pressure of the water to the proper degree.

The heater of the present invention can lbe made of any suitable material providing it meets the proper heating and plumbing codes, and the device includes two separate storage areas which are independent of each other so that water under different temperatures and pressures can be supplied from the same unit. However, the common source of heat can be used for both compartments. Thus, it will not be necessary to purchase two separate water heaters, as for example where people desire hot water for air conditioning their homes or other uses, as well as for various utility or domestic means. The cost of operating is also less and there will be a resulting saving in space. Due to the fact that some of the air will enter the space between the sleeve 31 and the tube 20 through the openings 22, the combustion gases will reach a higher temperature to more ei'liciently reilect their heat to the sides of the heating chamber and then to the water so that the fuel will be burned more economically. The thermostats 68 and 63 serve to control the temperature of the water issuing from the two compartments. The tank can be drained when desired.

I claim:

l. In a dual water heater, a hollow housing including a horizontally disposed bottom wall and a top wall, a casing arranged within said housing, insulation interposed between said casing and housing, a vertically disposed open ended tube extending through the top and bottom walls of said housing and casing and provided with apertures in the upper portion thereof and a plurality of cutouts therebelow, a partition secured within said casing adjacent the lower -end thereof, a plate positioned above said partition and secured to said casing, the cutouts in said tube being arranged above said partition and below said plate. a body member depending from said plate and defining a chamber therein, a plurality of tubes extending between said plate and the bottom of said chamber, a sleeve arranged in concentric spaced relation around said tube with the upper portion of said sleeve being connected to the tube and the sleeve extending through said chamber, said sleeve and body member being spaced from each other to deiine therebetween an open top well so that the water may circulate upwardly through the well and down through the plurality of tubes, said sleeve surrounding that portion of the tube having the cutouts therein, said plate coacting with the upper portion of said casing to dene an upper compartment for holding water, said partition and plate coacting to define therebetween a lower compartment for holding water, a main burner positioned below said partition and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, an auxiliary burner arranged in said main burner and communicating with the lower end of said sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, said burners being positioned above the lower end of said tube so that only the gaseous medium will enter at the bottom of said tube, thus air will flow through the cutouts in said tube into the space surrounding said tube to come into contact with combustion gases from said burners and then ow back out of the space through the apertures at the top of said tube into said tube, a first conduit communicating with said upper compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water, a second conduit communicating with said lower compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water and conduits communicating with said lower compartment and with said chamber for supplying water thereto from a source of supply, the upper end of said tube defining a "discharge means for the ue gases.-

2. In a dual water heater, a hollow housing including a horizontally disposed bottom wall and a top wall, a casing arranged within said housing, insulation interposed between said casing and housing, a vertically disposed open ended tube extending through the top and bottom walls of said housing and casing and provided with apertures in the upper portion thereof and a plurality of cutouts therebelow for the passage therethrough of a gaseous medium, a partition secured within said casing adjacent the lower end thereof, a plate positioned above said partition and secured to said casing, the cutouts in said tube being arranged intermediate the ends of said tube and cutouts being arranged above said partition and below said plate, a body member depending from said plate and defining ya chamber therein, a plurality of tubes extending between said plate and the bottom of said chamber, a sleeve arranged in concentric spaced relation around said tube with the upper portion of said sleeve being connected to the tube and the sleeve extending through said chamber, said sleeve and body member being spaced from each other to define therebetween an Open top wall so that the water may circulate upwardly through the well and down through the plurality of tubes, said sleeve surrounding that portion of the tube having the cutouts therein, said plate coacting with the upper portion of said casing to define an upper compartment for holding water, said partition and plate coacting to define therebetween a lower compartment for holding water, a main burner positioned below said partition and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, an auxiliary burner arranged in said main burner and communicating with the lower end of said sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, said burners being positioned above the lower end of said tube so that only the gaseous medium will enter at the bottom of said tube, thus air will flow through the cutouts in said tube into the space surrounding said tube to come into contact with combustion gases from said burners and then iiow back out of the space through the apertures at the top of said tube into said tube, a first conduit communicating with said upper compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water, a second conduit communicating with said lower compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water and conduits cornmunicating with said lower compartment and with said chambers for supplying water thereto from a source of supply, solenoid valves for controlling admission of fuel to said burners, and a thermostat in each of said compartments for controlling said solenoids, the upper end of said tube defining a discharge means for the ue gases.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 and further including a safety relief valve connected to the conduits that have the hot water passing therethrough.

4. In a dual water heater, a hollow housing including a bottom wall anda top wall, a casing including a top Wall arranged within said housing, a vertically disposed open ended tube extending through the top and bottom walls of said housing and casing and provided with apertures in the upper portion thereof and a plurality of cutouts therebelow for the passage therethrough of a gaseous medium, a partition secured within said casing, a plate positioned above said partition and secured to said casing, the cutouts in said tube being arranged in termediate the ends of said tube and said cutouts being arranged above said partition and below said plate, a body member depending from said plate and defining a chamber therein, a plurality of tubes extending between said plate and the bottom of said chamber, a sleeve arranged in concentric relation around said tube and extending through said chamber, said sleeve surrounding the portion of the tube having the cutouts therein, said sleeve and body member being spaced from each other to define therebetween an open top well so that the water may circulate upwardly through the well and down through the plurality of tubes, said plate coacting with the upper portion of said casing to define an upper compartment for holding water, said partition and plate coacting to define therebetween a lower compartment for holding water, a main burner positioned below said partition and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, an auxiliary burner arranged in said main burner and communicating with said sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel, said burners being positioned above the lower end of said tube so that only the gaseous medium will enter at the bottom of said tube, thus air will flow through the cutouts in said tube into the space surrounding said tube to come into contact with combustion gases from said burners and then flow back out of the space through the apertures at the top of said tube into said tube, a first conduit communicating with said upper compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water, a second conduit communicating with said lower compartment for the egress therethrough of hot water, conduits communicating with said lower compartment and with said chamber for supplying water thereto from a source of supply, the upper end of said tube defining a discharge means for the ue gases.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,723 Wilson June 5, 193 

